Hoop and Stick Toy Combination

ABSTRACT

A hoop and stick toy combination includes a hoop forming a closed circular loop of translucent material. Light emitters are positioned within an interior of the hoop such that an entirety of the hoop is illuminated when the light emitters emit light. A power source positioned within the hoop is electrically coupled to each of the light emitters. A rod is elongated and has a first end and a second end. The rod is tubular and is comprised of a translucent material. The rod has a bend therein positioned nearer to the second end than the first end. A catch is formed in the rod from the bend to the second end for engaging the hoop. A plurality of lights mounted in the rod illuminate the rod when turned on.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to hoop and stick play devices and moreparticularly pertains to a new hoop and stick play device forencouraging a child to roll a hoop over a ground surface.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a hoop forming a closed circular loop having aninner diameter and an outer diameter. The hoop is comprised of atranslucent material. Light emitters are positioned within an interiorof the hoop and are spaced throughout the hoop such that an entirety ofthe hoop is illuminated when the light emitters emit light. A powersource is positioned within the hoop and is electrically coupled to eachof the light emitters. A rod is elongated and has a first end and asecond end. The rod is tubular and is comprised of a translucentmaterial. The rod has a bend therein positioned nearer to the second endthan the first end and is linear from the first end to the bend todefine a main portion of the rod. A catch is formed in the rod from thebend to the second end for engaging the hoop. The catch is U-shaped fromthe bend to the second end. A plurality of lights is mounted in the rodand is spaced throughout the rod from the first end to the second. Abattery is electrically coupled to the lights. A switch is electricallycoupled to the battery and the lights. The switch is actuated to turnthe lights on or off.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hoop and stick toy combinationaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through7 thereof, a new hoop and stick play device embodying the principles andconcepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated bythe reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the hoop and stick toycombination 10 generally comprises a hoop 12 forming a closed, circularloop having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The inner diameteris between 10.0 inches and 15.0 inches, the outer diameter is between14.0 inches and 20.0 inches. The hoop 12 has an outer surface 14 and aninner surface 16 with respect to an axis of the hoop 12. The outersurface 14 is convexly arcuate to facilitate the rolling of the hoop 12along a ground surface. The hoop 12 comprises an outer tube 18 thatforms a torus and thus the inner surface 16 may be convexly arcuate aswell such that a cross-section of the hoop 12, as shown in FIG. 4, maybe circular shaped. A diameter of outer tube may be between 1.0 inchesand 3.0 inches. The outer tube 18 is rigid and comprised of atranslucent material, which may be transparent, to allow light to travelthrough a wall of the outer tube 18. A frame 20 is positioned within thehoop 12 and extends throughout the interior of the hoop 12 to reinforcethe hoop 12. The frame 20 includes an inner tube 22 spaced from theouter tube 18. A plurality of supports 24 is attached to the inner tube22 and extends to the outer tube 18. As can be seen in FIG. 5, thesupports 24 may each comprise a panel 26 attached to and extending awayfrom the inner tube 22 and a pair of flanges 28 attached to andextending away from the panel 26 and positioned distal to the inner tube22.

A plurality of light emitters 30 is positioned within an interior of thehoop 12. The light emitters 30 are spaced throughout the hoop 12 suchthat an entirety of the hoop 12 is illuminated when the light emitters30 emit light. The light emitters 30 may comprise light emitting diodes(LEDs). A power source 32 is positioned within the hoop 12 and iselectrically coupled to each of the light emitters 30. The power source32 may comprise one or more batteries and an actuator may be provided toturn the light emitters 30 on or off. The light emitters 30 may bepositioned on the support 20 and more particularly on the flanges 28 asshown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the power source 32 may be activatedwhen the hoop 12 is rotated perpendicular to the axis, such as when itis being rolled along the ground surface. This may be achieved with agravity switch that is activated when the centrifugal force of the hoop12 rotating causes the gravity switch to move from an open position to aclosed position and is biased, generally, into the open position.Another manner for powering the light emitters 30 is to place coppertubing 34 within the inner tube 22 and a magnetized sphere 36 positionedwithin the copper tubing 34. As the sphere 36 moves through the coppertubing 34, electricity is produced and stored in a capacitor 38. Theelectricity is then released from the capacitor to the light emitters30. In this manner, no battery is needed and the light emitters 30 areonly powered when the hoop 12 is being rotated.

A rod 40 is provided which is elongated and has a first end 42 and asecond end 44. The rod 40 is tubular and is comprised of a rigid,translucent material that may be transparent. The rod 40 has a bend 46therein positioned nearer to the second end 44 than the first end 42,though the rod 40 is linear from the first end 42 to the bend 46 anddefines a main portion 48 of the rod 40. From the bend 46 to the secondend 44, the rod 40 forms a catch 50 for engaging the hoop 12. The catch50 is U-shaped from the bend 46 to the second end 44. More particularly,the catch 50 includes a first arm 52 extending downwardly from the bend46, a central portion 54 is attached to the first arm 52 distal to thebend 46, and a second arm 56 extends upwardly from the central portion54. The bend 46 forms an angle 58 between the first arm 52 and the mainportion 48 that is between 70° and 90° and more preferably about 80° sothat the catch 50 is slightly angled backwards toward the first end 42as can be seen in FIG. 1. The main portion 48 has a length between 20.0inches and 30.0 inches. The first 52 and second 56 arms each have alength between 2.0 inches and 4.0 inches and the central portion 54 isarcuate and may form a half circle has a radius between 2.0 inches and3.5 inches.

A plurality of lights 60 is mounted in the rod 40 and is spacedthroughout the rod 40 from the first end 42 to the second 44 toilluminate the entire rod 40 when the lights 60 are turned on. Thelights 60 may also comprise LED type lights. A bracing assembly 62 maybe positioned within the rod 60 and may also include panels 64 andflanges 66 similar to those found in the hoop 12. The lights 60 may bemounted on the flanges 66. A handle 68 is attached to the first end 42.A battery 70, and perhaps a plurality of batteries, is mounted in thehandle 68 and electrically couple to the lights 60. The handle 68 mayinclude a removable cap section 69 to remove and replace the battery 70as needed. A switch 72 is electrically coupled to the battery and thelights. The switch 72 is actuated to turn the lights 70 on or off.Additionally, a color switch 74 may be mounted on the handle 68 andelectrically coupled to the lights 70. The lights 70 may include aplurality of different colored LEDs and the color switch 74 may beactuated to determine which colors are to be illuminated.

In use, the combination 10 is typically used by children who will usethe rod 40 to engage the hoop 12 and cause the hoop 12 to roll over aground surface. The child will run after the hoop 12, continuing toengage the hoop 12 with the catch 50 as needed to cause the hoop 12 tocontinue to roll. The catch 50 aids the child in engaging and alteringthe direction of the hoop 12 as needed. The light emitters 30 and lights60 encourage the child to play with the combination 10 so that the childis entertained while exercising.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A toy kit configured to promote exercising, said toy kit comprising:a hoop comprising a closed circular loop having an inner diameter and anouter diameter, said hoop being comprised of a translucent material; aframe being positioned within said hoop and extending throughout said aninterior of said hoop, said frame reinforcing said hoop, said frameincludes: an inner tube spaced from an outer tube of said hoop, and aplurality of supports being attached to said inner tube and extending tosaid outer tube, each support comprising a panel attached to andextending away from the inner tube, and a pair of flanges attached toand extending away from opposite respective sides of said panel suchthat each flange forms an acute angle with said panel, a junctionbetween said panel and each said flange being spaced from a distal edgeof said panel relative to said inner tube; a plurality of light emittersbeing positioned within said interior of said hoop, said light emittersbeing spaced throughout said hoop such that an entirety of said hoop isilluminated when said light emitters emit light, said light emittersbeing positioned on said flanges of said supports; a power source beingpositioned within said hoop and being electrically coupled to each ofsaid light emitters; a rod being elongated and having a first end and asecond end, said rod being tubular and being comprised of a translucentmaterial, said rod having a bend therein positioned nearer to saidsecond end than said first end, said rod being linear from said firstend to said bend and defining a main portion of said rod, said rodforming a catch from said bend to said second end for engaging saidhoop, said catch being U-shaped from said bend to said second end; aplurality of lights being mounted in said rod and being spacedthroughout said rod from said first end to said second end; a batterybeing electrically coupled to said lights; and a switch beingelectrically coupled to said battery and said lights, said switch beingactuated to turn said lights on or off.
 2. The toy kit according toclaim 1, wherein said inner diameter is between 10.0 inches and 15.0inches, said outer diameter being between 14.0 inches and 20.0 inches.3. The toy kit according to claim 1, wherein said hoop has an outersurface and an inner surface with respect to an axis of said hoop, saidouter surface being convexly arcuate.
 4. The toy kit according to claim3, wherein said hoop comprises the outer tube forming a torus.
 5. Thetoy kit according to claim 1, wherein said power source is activatedwhen said hoop is rotated perpendicular to an axis of said hoop. 6.(canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. The toy kit according to claim 1, whereinsaid catch includes a first arm extending downwardly from said bend, acentral portion being attached to said first arm distal to said bend,and a second arm extending upwardly from said central portion, said bendforming an angle between said first arm and said main portion beingbetween 70° and 90°.
 9. The toy kit according to claim 8, wherein saidmain portion has a length between 20.0 inches and 30.0 inches, saidfirst and second arms each having a length between 2.0 inches and 4.0inches, said central portion being arcuate and forming a half circlehaving a radius between 2.0 inches and 3.5 inches.
 10. The toy kitaccording to claim 1, further including a handle being attached to saidfirst end, said battery being positioned within said handle and saidswitch being mounted on said handle.
 11. A toy kit configured to promoteexercising, said toy kit comprising: a hoop comprising a closed circularloop having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, said inner diameterbeing between 10.0 inches and 15.0 inches, said outer diameter beingbetween 14.0 inches and 20.0 inches, said hoop having an outer surfaceand an inner surface with respect to an axis of said hoop, said outersurface being convexly arcuate, said hoop comprising an outer tubeforming a torus, said outer tube being comprised of a translucentmaterial; a plurality of light emitters being positioned within aninterior of said hoop, said light emitters being spaced throughout saidhoop such that an entirety of said hoop is illuminated when said lightemitters emit light; a power source being positioned within said hoopand being electrically coupled to each of said light emitters, saidpower source being activated when said hoop is rotated perpendicular tosaid axis; a frame being positioned within said hoop and extendingthroughout said interior of said hoop, said frame reinforcing said hoop,said frame including an inner tube spaced from said outer tube, and aplurality of supports being attached to said inner tube and extending tosaid outer tube, said light emitters being positioned on said supports,each support comprising a panel attached to and extending away from theinner tube, a pair of flanges attached to and extending away fromopposite respective sides of said panel such that each flange forms anacute angle with said panel, a junction between said panel and each saidflange being spaced from a distal edge of said panel relative to saidinner tube, and said light emitters being positioned on said flanges ofsaid supports; a rod being elongated and having a first end and a secondend, said rod being tubular and being comprised of a translucentmaterial, said rod having a bend therein positioned nearer to saidsecond end than said first end, said rod being linear from said firstend to said bend and defining a main portion of said rod, said rodforming a catch from said bend to said second end for engaging saidhoop, said catch being U-shaped from said bend to said second end, saidcatch including a first arm extending downwardly from said bend, acentral portion being attached to said first arm distal to said bend,and a second arm extending upwardly from said central portion, said bendforming an angle between said first arm and said main portion beingbetween 70° and 90°, said main portion having a length between 20.0inches and 30.0 inches, said first and second arms each having a lengthbetween 2.0 inches and 4.0 inches, said central portion being arcuateand forming a half circle having a radius between 2.0 inches and 3.5inches; a plurality of lights being mounted in said rod and being spacedthroughout said rod from said first end to said second end; a handlebeing attached to said first end; a battery being positioned within saidhandle and being electrically coupled to said lights; a switch beingelectrically coupled to said battery and said lights, said switch beingactuated to turn said lights on or off.